Tai Chi & Qigong Surrey

11/11/2025

Join us for our charity practice day in Reigate (Colman Redland Centre) on Sunday 23 November from 10am.

This is an amazing opportunity to sample tai chi, qigong, meditation and experience a sound bath. We will also have tea breaks in the morning and afternoon and enjoy a communal lunch together.

All profits go to charity.

Beginners are welcome!

If you'd like to attend please RSVP to Nicci via email on twgwithnicci@gmail.com or WhatsApp on 07960 881561

05/11/2025

🌌 Heaven • Human • Earth

In Chinese philosophy — and in practices like Tai Chi, Qigong, and acupuncture — we often talk about the harmony of Heaven, Human, and Earth.

✨ Heaven is the great rhythm of life — the sun rising, the seasons shifting, the flow of Qi that moves through everything.
When we rise with the morning light, practice outdoors, or simply pause to look at the sky and breathe deeply, we’re connecting with Heaven.

🌱 Earth is our foundation — the ground beneath our feet, the food that nourishes us, the body we live in.
We connect with Earth each time we eat warm, seasonal food, walk barefoot, or slow down enough to feel our weight sink through our feet in standing meditation.
Acupuncture also helps us ground — bringing energy back into the body when life pulls us too far into our heads.

🧘‍♀️ Human stands between Heaven and Earth — the bridge that links the two.
Through awareness, movement, and breath, we can bring Heaven’s light into Earth’s steadiness.
Each time we move mindfully through Tai Chi or Qigong, we are harmonising these two forces within us.

When Heaven, Human, and Earth move together, life flows more smoothly.
We feel calm, connected, and aligned — rooted in the Earth, open to Heaven, and fully present in ourselves.

That’s the heart of healing and practice — coming back into balance with the natural flow of life. 🌿

22/10/2025

🌎 Press Pause, Look Up (or Down)

Life has a way of slipping into routine — the same rhythms, the same lists, the same pace. Before we realise it, months have gone by, and we might feel as though we haven’t moved forward all that much.

I’ve been there — actually, if I’m honest, I find myself there quite a lot.

When that feeling creeps in, I try to pause. To take a breath and simply be present. To really notice the world around me — the wide stretch of sky above (or the ocean below), a new bloom in the garden, or the silky softness of my kittens as I sit quietly petting them (phone out of reach for once). No goals, no expectations — just presence.

Today, I found that moment on a flight over the Caribbean — a brief stillness between thoughts, plans, and worries.

And this is what I saw. ✨

12/10/2025

Dates for your diary for the remainder of 2025.

Please contact Nicci on twgwithnicci@gmail.com if you'd like to join any of these events

06/10/2025

Autumn is the time of metal in Chinese Medicine. It's about differentiating between what is valuable and what can be put down or let go of.

I love this Winnie the Pooh post which talks about exactly this concept.

Well worth a read and some reflection.

“Pooh,” said Piglet softly, “how do you know when it’s time to step away from things that make you sad?”
Pooh thought about this very carefully, because it was a question that touched both the heart and the tummy, and those were the most important sorts of questions. “Well, Piglet,” he said, “sometimes you notice that certain places or certain thoughts feel too heavy, like carrying too many honey pots all at once. And then you remember—it’s all right to set some of them down.”
Piglet tilted his head. “But isn’t that leaving things behind?”
Pooh shook his head gently. “Not leaving, Piglet. Just choosing. Choosing to keep what makes you warm inside and putting down what makes your paws ache. Because even in the Hundred Acre Wood, not every path is meant for every day. Some paths lead to sunshine, and some only to thistles.”
Piglet gave a little sigh of relief. “So self-care is knowing which path to walk?”
“Exactly,” said Pooh. “It’s remembering that it’s not selfish to take care of your heart. Because when your heart is lighter, you have more to share with the friends who need you most.”
And with that, Pooh leaned back against the log, flower in hand, tea steaming beside him, and decided that the best kind of strength wasn’t carrying everything, but knowing when to carry less.

02/10/2025

Perhaps you are wondering why I am posting this here...

Tai chi and qigong are more than just physical practices. They are an opening into exploring your nature as a being stood between heaven and earth (the Chinese term for this is tian-ren-di - literally, heaven-man-earth).

By becoming aware of our nature we see possibilities to shape how we are in the world.

For me, I recognised that I wanted to work to support the health, wellbeing and happiness of my community. That's why I trained as an acupuncturist and tai chi and qigong teacher. This brings me fulfilment and joy.

What is your true nature?

What brings you fulfilment and joy?

Want to know more? Get in touch with Nicci at twgwithnicci@gmail.com.

02/10/2025

You get a bit of both at Tai Chi & Qigong Surrey but definitely rooted more in the Original Traditional Tai Chi.

The benefits and goals of practicing authentic traditional Tai Chi are a little bit different from those of modern modifications.

The fundamental difference is that authentic traditional Tai Chi is rooted in martial arts with holistic goals, encompassing muscle strengthening, healing, and self-development through a combination of movement, breathing, and concentration meditation. Modern modifications focus primarily on more focused physical and mental health benefits, often simplified for specific age groups or conditions. Benefits of authentic Tai Chi include increased vitality and spiritual growth, while modern modifications focus more on stress reduction, improved balance, and muscle strength for seniors or those with medical conditions.

Purpose:

Authentic Traditional Tai Chi:

Develops martial arts skills, mental discipline, and overall self-development.

Achieves a perfect balance between body, mind, and spirit.

Increases vital energy (Qi) and promotes health and vitality.

Modern Modified Tai Chi:

Improves physical and mental health specifically.

Focuses on benefits such as reducing stress, improving balance and flexibility in seniors, and helping with chronic conditions like osteoarthritis.

Simplifying movements or tempo to make them more accessible for beginners or people with certain conditions.

Benefits:

Traditional Original Tai Chi:

Comprehensively improves balance, flexibility, and muscle strength.

Reduces stress and anxiety through deep breathing and movement meditation.

Clears the mind and improves concentration.

Manages chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis.

Modern Modified Tai Chi:

Reduces the risk of falls in older adults by improving balance and muscle strength.

Improves heart and immune health.

Improves sleep quality and improves mood.

Improves cognitive function, especially in older adults.

Key Differences in Practice:

Traditional Original Tai Chi: Places greater emphasis on martial arts philosophy, precise movements, and in-depth traditional teachings.

Modern Modified Tai Chi: May have fewer movements, be slower, or have a different emphasis to achieve specific health outcomes, as recommended by research for specific needs.

30/09/2025

Our new flyers are looking fabulous.

These include the term dates up to April 2026 and the new prices that apply from 12 November 2025.

With thanks to Abigail Evans Photography for the pictures and to my wonderful friend Alison Duthie for agreeing to be in them with me :)

29/09/2025

Some of the group who joined our autumn 🍁 social, a lovely walk on Box Hill followed by lunch ☺️

Our classes are not only about learning exercises for health, they're also about making friendships.

28/09/2025

The secret...